This verse is the blueprint for our lives because of God’s sovereignty over all things and all people. Everything is in vain unless God is guiding us because although we may be able to “build” within our lives, it is only God who can breathe success over our circumstances
With God being the builder, it means that metaphorically speaking, His direct involvement is orchestrating the intricate outworkings of things seen and unseen within our lives
The Hebrew word for “house” found in Psalm 127:1 is located in the Bible nearly a thousand times! This meaning is used literally to refer to temples, palaces, and homes, but also to refer to our households and/or families figuratively. These are all important “structures” to us, and yet, it’s not just about the physical places we may call home, but it’s also about our identity, our security, and our self-worth within that “house.”
This is why it is so important for God to be building our lives, because with His help, guidance, and protection, although our circumstances may change, He is the One who is ultimately in control
Psalm 127:1 puts things into perspective for us because it shows that we are able to build for ourselves – after all, we have the free will to do so – yet, this verse indicates that ultimately no matter how skilled or exquisite our craftsmanship is, it will all be in vain because God is the source of wisdom, which in Proverbs it tells us:
“By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures”
Proverbs 23:3-4
Now, we might be thinking that life is pretty good right now, or we have had a blessed life until this point because of using our wisdom…but what if we handed over control to God for our lives? What if we let go of needing to build our own “kingdom” and focus on God’s Kingdom instead?
Matthew 12:30 talks about a house divided, but we need to understand that Jesus was arguing that there is only one general principle in this world – there are only two parties in it. This means, if we are not building with God, we are actually against Him, and that is why everything we ultimately do will be in vain
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain”
Psalm 127:1
Categories: Psalm
